Developing a Writing Process

Know your audience. My daughter-in-law is a successful artist, but her art is targeted at a specific audience. I once suggested she come to sell her art at the local artisan market where I sell my books. She said, “I know who my audience is, and I also know who would not appreciate my art.” If you are writing for a certain audience, gear your writing to them.

 I do not mean you must stick to one niche. I write about a variety of topics, and I want to challenge myself by writing in different forms, but if I am writing a picture book for children 4-8, I am going to write it in a way that is attractive to them.

 Learn how to make it flow. When you are reading your favorite books, pay attention to the flow, the way the words make the scene move. You do not want your writing to be choppy. One way to notice if your writing is moving smoothly is to read it aloud or have someone else read it aloud. Play with different sentence structures and see what works best.

 Offer a new perspective. I love reading writing that makes me see a unique perspective. I want to be able to think about opinions from all sides, and when someone offers me a different window on a thought or event, I enjoy that moment of enlightenment.

 Be transparent. Readers want to be able to relate to someone who is like them. Show your flaws and how you are trying to improve them. Talk to your readers about topics that matter to them or create a world of fiction where they can escape their struggles.

 Stay focused and finish. I can only speak for myself, but I often become distracted while writing. People call, text, walk into my office, and ask for my attention, and I can lose focus because I look out the window and start watching the neighbor’s dog. Most of the time, I lose my focus because I always have several projects going on at the same time.

 Put in the work. You cannot complain about a lack of success if you are not putting time and effort into your craft. Make writing a priority, find a suitable time and place, and sit down and do it.

 Let your writing sit. After you have finished writing, walk away from it before you send it for publication. Often, you will decide to add or delete something when you look at it again.

 Check your facts. Make sure your research is correct before you publish something. Check your facts with more than one resource. You should be a trusted source of information for your readers.

 Take out hatefulness. We all feel bitter and angry at some point, but your pen is powerful. Decide if you want to use it as a weapon to hurt or a way to heal. I know when I write something full of hate, I do not feel good about it afterward.

Craft catchy titles. Your title is your first chance to pull the reader in to read your work. Create titles that make people want to investigate what you want to say.

 Keep it simple. The best messages are the most basic ones. Be honest and real, and just tell your story.

 Ask for feedback. Hearing critiques of your work can be difficult, but the feedback can help you grow. When you can brainstorm with someone by listening to what he thinks of your work, you can collaborate with him to improve your writing. If you have a writing friend, ask him for an honest opinion.

 Do not force your writing. I often hear the advice to write every day. A better idea is to write consistently. If you force yourself to write, what you produce might not be of the same quality as what you can produce when you feel more creative.

 Be authentic. Do not try to be someone you are not. Your readers want to know you are genuine.

 Do not let the thought “What if this stinks” keep you from finishing. When a writer spends time and effort on crafting a book or article, negative thoughts can creep into your brain. You might ask if the quality of your writing is worth your effort, but you will not know until you do it.

 Write the bones down. Many writers have trouble starting because they feel overwhelmed. Instead of worrying about having a perfect product, write down all your thoughts and then start to make sense of them and create the form you want.

 Build trust. Once your readers know who you are and that they can trust you, you will find greater success, When I vend at the local market, people want to talk to me before they buy my books. A man who was considering carrying my books in his store told me he insists on meeting an author first to make sure the author is genuine. You build trust by being truthful, delivering an honest, helpful product, and being transparent.

 Do not worry about pleasing everyone. Taylor Swift had a beautiful reaction to a question about her album. The interviewer asked her how she felt about the negative comments about her album. She responded that she was not the art police and any art was subject to interpretation, and everyone had the right to that interpretation. I heard something similar while vending at the craft market. A young lady named Lindsey makes beautiful jewelry. Several customers asked her if she ever made any silver jewelry. Her response was that she was a gold girl and since gold made her happy, that was what she was going to make. If you are happy with what you have created, you are winning.

 Have a formula for articles. I write on a platform called Medium where I have a chance to interact with other others and learn from them. One author had a great formula for writing good articles. Here it is.

• Identify a problem.
• Make the problem felt. (Why is it important to solve it?)
• How have others tried to fix it?
• Give your solution.
• Give a takeaway. What is an action step the reader can do?

 Engage with readers. The more you can interact with readers, the more you will understand what they enjoy about your writing, and they will feel more like a part of your adventure.

 Write a great query. Before you can craft a catchy title and use your first sentence to grab the attention of your readers, you must catch the attention of a publisher with your query.

         Your query should be around a page, and within that page, you need to describe your writing as well as provide any information a publisher might need. Convince the publisher why your work should be accepted. How is it unique? What qualifications do you have?

Here are the guidelines for formatting a query.

• Use a normal font and typeface, such as Courier and 10- or 12-point type.
• Include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and website.
• Use one-inch margin.
• Address a specific editor or agent.

 Remember to say thank you. Thank your customers and thank everyone who has helped you on your journey. That includes the people you ask to do reviews, your cheerleaders, your editors and publishers, local media who help spread the word about your work, and those who share the wisdom you need.

    The three people I thank the most are my friend Kim, my friend Donna, and my publisher Victor. When I first began writing full-time, I did not believe in my ability or my identity as a writer, but Kim did. She taught me to only listen to critique that makes me better. Victor, my publisher, has made my writing adventure possible. He advises me if he does not think a book idea is feasible, and he guides me through new projects. My friend Donna is ready to help me with anything I need, and she encourages me constantly.

Break some rules. You can break a few rules. Do not let the rules constrict your writing. You need to use good grammar, but the way you construct your writing does not always have to fit in a box. One rule that I hear all the time is to write what you know, but if you do not write about other subjects that interest you, how can you grow?

Avoid using I think. It is evident that this is your opinion, so don’t restate the obvious.

Keep track of submissions. Document where and when you sent your writing and how long do you need to wait before expecting a reply. The market listings for a publication will tell you how long is appropriate to wait for a response. Wait a few more weeks after the suggested time then follow up with an e-mail or letter.